Archives

Twitter

By: Harav Elysha Sandler / 5 Nisan 5780
Picture the vivid scene of a Torah scroll uncovered, laying on the bimah in the center of the shul.
Its lessons absorbed and its timeless message just received by the
attentive congregation—a truly auspicious moment! And now, it is time
for the gabbai to intone the Mi Shebeirach Lacholim, the prayer
for the wellbeing of the bedridden and infirm, due to illness. Their
names are inserted, the prayer is recited, and the entire congregation
responds with a fervent, “Amen!”
But why in front of the Torah scroll? Explains R’ Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 5, Ramat Rachel, 17) that
it is a time of immense Heavenly Mercy, and also a time at which all
present fuel the prayer with a unified and heartfelt “Amen.”
We are presently incapable of reciting the Mi Shebeirach
in the presence of our congregations or in front of an open Torah
scroll. We may nevertheless collectively pray for our brothers and
sisters whose health has deteriorated and whose lives have been
challenged as a result of the highly infectious Covid-19 virus.
As we listen to this poignant melody and lyrics, our
hearts fill with longing and hope. Let us insert their names, and pray
together as a large, unified, congregation.
Amen!
Harav Elysha Sandler serves as the Mashgiach Ruchani
of Yeshivas Sh’or Yashuv and as Mora D’asra of Kehilas Bais Yisroel in
Far Rockaway. He is the author of “Sparkling Speech” and “Through Music and Song: Music from a Torah perspective“.